Practical Psychology for Forensic Investigations and Prosecutions

This book it is a comprehensive guide, aimed at professionals, that starts with the interview of the victim of the crime, moving through the interviewing of suspects, to the decision to prosecute and enhancing the quality of evidence presented in court. Other topics discussed include: false allegations, false confessions, offender profiling and victim support. Throughout, the theme of the book is that the chain of events leading to the successful investigation and prosecution of offences is only as strong as the weakest link, and should be considered as a coherent whole.

Mark Kebbell is an associate professor at the James Cook University, Townsville, Australia. He co-wrote (with Graham Wagstaff) guidelines for police officers in England and Wales on the assessment of eyewitness evidence, and has published many journal articles.

Graham Davies is co-series editor with Ray Bull and a professor of psychology at the University of Leicester. He is co-editor ofApplied Cognitive Psychology; amongst his numerous publications, and the most recent for Wiley, isRecovered Memories: Seeking the Middle Ground.

About the Editors.

About the Contributors.

Acknowledgements.

Preface.

Introduction (Graham Davies and Mark Kebbell).

1. Interviewing Victims of Crime, Including Children and People with Intellectual Disabilities (Becky Milne and Ray Bull).

2. Procedural Recommendations to Increase the Reliability of Eyewitness Identifications (Jennifer Beaudry, Rod Lindsay and Paul Dupuis).

3. Investigating Criminal Cases of Delayed Reports of Sexual Abuse (Laurence Alison and Mark Kebbell).

4. Psychological Characteristics of Offenders (Kevin Howells and Jacqueline Stacey).

5. Detecting Deception (Aldert Vrij).

6. Improving the Interviewing of Suspected Offenders (Mark Kebbell and Emily Hurren).

7. Strategies for Preventing False Confessions and Their Consequences (Deborah Davis and Richard Leo).

8. Offender Profiling: Limits and Potential (Laurence Alison and Mark Kebbell).

9. Deciding to Prosecute (Elizabeth Gilchrist).

10. Preventing Withdrawal of Complaints and Psychological Support for Victims (Graham Davies and Helen Westcott).

11. Communicating Risk to the Court (Don Grubin).

12. Future Directions for Applying Psychology to Forensic Investigations and Prosecutions (Mark Kebbell and Graham Davies).

Index.